Cage for ball-bearings.



H. HESS & e. M. HENRlE.

QAGE FOR BALL BEARINGS. APPLICATION FILED JUL-Y 28.1911.

PatentedJuly 6, 1915.

3 V. a c u. M v v HENRY HESS AND GHEIORG1 M. HENEIE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE HESS-BRIGHT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAGE FOR BALL-BEARINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed July 28, 1911. Serial No. 641.038.

This invention relates to ball holding cages for ball bearings, and has reference more particailarly to that type of cage in which flaps or fingers are arranged between the balls so as to separate and form seats for them. In certain constructions of these cagesthe fiapsor fingers are attached by rivets or similar fastening means to a base ring, while inother formsthe fingers or flaps are formed integrally with a base ring and are bent inwardly between the balls, tneir position between the balls being main tained by the inherent stitlness of the material. In the use of cages of these forms, when the parts to which the bearing containing the cages is applied, are driven at high rates of speed, the parts of the cage very frequently become separated and the flaps or fingers become displaced or distorted, whereby the etliciency of the cage is materially intert'ered with, if not entirely destroyed.

It is the aim of our invention to provide a cage free from such detects and capable of maintaining its form and ett'ectiveness under the severe conditions encountered in prac-- tice, such for instance as high speeds, and the invention consists broadly in the provision of means for locking the fingers or flaps in their operative position between the balls. so that they will be firmly and fixedly held in proper effective position without liability of bending out and releasing the balls, or becoming detached, or of becoming deformed or displaced.

In its more specific embodiment, our improved cage is constructed from a single piece of sheet metal, and comprises a fiat base or ring provided at intervals with pairs of opposing fiaps or lingers constituting ball seats between the pairs of flaps, the flaps of each pair being bent inwardly toward each other and brought together between the balls. at which point they are locked or fastened together. preferably by interlocking one flap with the other.

Our invention is susceptible of di'tlerent forms of embodiment, that form shown in the accompanying drawings being the one which we prefer to adopt. It will be understood, therefore, that our invention is not limited to the form or embodiment shown, nor to any particular form or construction of the parts except in so far as such limita tions are specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a plan view of our improved'cage with some of the balls in place and others removed, parts of the cage being in section to better illustrate its construction. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line (l.-(& of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a similar view on the line 7)'Z) of Fig. 4.

Fig. it is a side elevation of the cage with some of the balls removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the cage is formed.

Referring to the drawings: ()ur improved cage'is constructed from a single piece or blank of sheet metal. and consists of a ring or base 1 provided at intervals with pairs of opposing flaps or fingers 22. 33. 4t, etc., the flaps of each pair extending inwardly respectively from the inner and outer edges of the base ring 1 toward each other and meeting at a point some distance beyond the base plate; from which point the two flaps extend flatly face to face in a direction axially of the ring. and are firmly and fixedly connected together, preferably by means of a lip 11 on. one of the flaps.

which is bent over and around the end of the companion tiap. as shown in Fig. 5). ltwill be seen from thisconstruction that. the two flaps extending flatly face to face. form in eiiect a stiit strut between the balls. the.

effectof which is to strengthen the cage in a circumferential direction, and effectually preventdistortion of the parts from the wedging action of the balls or from other causes. Furthermore, it will be seen that the inwardly extending portions of the ilaps in connection with the base ring. form. throughout the extent of the cage. a series of inclosed spaces or chambers, which are adapted to hold a large quantity of lubri I cant, and in this way insure that the bearing Willbe maintained in proper lubricated condition for a long period of time.

The edges of the flaps, where the latter extend between the balls. are provided with flanges 1:21'2, which partially embrace the balls both in a direction radially of the cage and also axially of e same, the flangeson the flaps of adjacent mirs, c'onstitut-ingconjointly a curved seat or one ball, which ball has surface contact against the flan es, as .well as contact agalnst the inner portions 13 of the edges of the flaps of. adjacent pairs,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

which edges are curvec and so support the ball that it will be sustained free-of contact with the base ring. as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 we'have shown the outline form of ablank suitable for producing the cage illustrated in the other figures. This blank is of general circular form containing a ringlike portion which forms the base ring 'of the cage, and from which there are extended on opposite sides. the outer flaps 2,

3.. 4, etc., and the inner flaps 2*, 3, 4, etc., which flaps are so formed that when they are bent inwardly and brought together and flanged asdescribed, ball seats will be afforded between the pairs of flaps in the manner set forth. In assembling the cage in' the bearing, the balls are first assembled be tween the casing'members of the bearing,

and the cage, in finished condition with the.

exception of the bending over of the locking lip, is forced .over the balls, and finally the lipsof one of the-flaps of the pairs are bent over the companion flaps to secure them firmly together.

By reason ofthe construction described,- the cage may be made of vervlight materlal 40v while possessing the necessary strength and stiffness: and by reason of the fact that the balls are embraced on opposite sides by the flanged flaps, a correct centering of the balls is brought about, and there is secured a proper balancing of masses on e ther side of the centralplane through the balls, at right angles to the axis of the cage. Furthermore,

. by reason of. the fact that the flaps of the pairs are interlocked with each other or fastened together, they will be efiect-u'ally prevented from bending up or separating, or

- becoming distorted or deformed under the severe conditions encountered in practice, particularly when the parts to which the bearing containing the cage is applied, are

driven at high speeds.

The cage being made from a single piece v of metal, there is no liability of the separation of any of its parts.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A-cage for ball bearings, said cagecomprising a radially extending ring or base,

and pairs of flaps extending from the opposite edges of said base inwardly toward each other and forming ball inclosures between the pairs, theends of the flaps of a pair being secured together between the balls.

2. A ball holding cage for'ball bearings, said cage comprising a radially extending ring or base provided at intervals'with pairs of opposing flaps extending from the opposite edges of the base inwardly toward each other and then flatly faceto face in an axial direction and having their ends secured together.

3. A ball holding cage forb'all bearings,

'said cage comprisinga radially" extending ring or base provided at opposite edges with pairs of flaps extending inwardly toward each other, one flap of a pair being bent over and around the end of its companion flap to secure them together.

4. A ball holdingcage for ball bearings,

said cage comprising a radially extending ringfor base fprovided at its opposite edges with pairs 0 opposing flaps extending inwardly toward each other. with the flaps of a pair secured together, said flaps being pro tures in presence'of two witnesses.

HENRY HESS. GEORGE M. HENRIE; Witnesses: v

' W. L. Ba'rr,

MARY MCALIA.

the Commissioner of Patents,

1 extending flaps forming 

